The 2020–21 Belgian Cup, called the Croky Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 66th season of Belgium's annual football cup competition. The competition began on 2 August 2020 and ended with the final on 25 April 2021. The winners of the competition qualified for the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League play-off round.

2020–21 Belgian Cup
Tournament details
CountryBelgium
Dates2 August 2020 – 25 April 2021
Final positions
ChampionsGenk
Runner-upStandard Liège

Competition format

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The competition consisted of one preliminary round, followed by ten proper rounds. All rounds were single-match elimination rounds, including the semi-finals which were traditionally held over two legs but not this season due to an extremely tight schedule. When tied after 90 minutes in the first three rounds, penalties were taken immediately. From round four, when tied after 90 minutes first an extra time period of 30 minutes was played, then penalties were taken if still necessary.

Teams entered the competition in different rounds, based upon their 2020–21 league affiliation. Teams from the fifth-level Belgian Division 3 or lower began in round 1, with the exception of four teams from the Luxembourg Belgian Provincial League which started in the preliminary round. Belgian Division 2 teams entered in round 2, Belgian National Division 1 teams entered in round 3, Belgian First Division B teams in round 5 and finally the Belgian First Division A teams entered in round 6.

Round Clubs
remaining
Clubs
involved
Winners from
previous round
New entries
this round
Leagues entering at this round Exceptions entering at this round
Preliminary Round 312 4 none 4 4 Luxembourg Belgian Provincial League teams
Round 1 310 221 2 219 Belgian Division 3 (63 teams) and Belgian Provincial Leagues (156 teams) Wetteren [D]
Round 2 200 160 110 + 1 bye 49 Belgian Division 2 Mandel United [D]
Round 3 120 96 80 16 Belgian National Division 1 Lierse Kempenzonen [D]
Round 4 72 48 48 none none
Round 5 48 32 24 8 Belgian First Division B (except Club NXT) Waasland-Beveren & OH Leuven [E]
Round 6 32 32 16 16 Belgian First Division A
Round 7 16 16 16 none none
Quarter-Finals 8 8 8 none none
Semi-Finals 4 4 4 none none
Final 2 2 2 none none

Round and draw dates

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Round Draw date Match date
Preliminary Round 14 July 2020 23 August 2020
First Round 29 & 30 August 2020
Second Round 5 & 6 September 2020
Third Round 11 - 15 September 2020
Fourth Round 20 September 2020
Fifth Round 21 September 2020 11 October 2020
Sixth Round 12 October 2020 2 & 3 February 2021
Seventh Round 8 January 2021 9 - 11 February 2021
Quarter-finals 11 February 2021 2 - 4 March 2021
Semi-finals 4 March 2021 13 & 14 March 2021
Final 25 April 2021

Preliminary round

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This round of matches was played on 23 August 2020[1] and included four teams playing in the Luxembourg Belgian Provincial League.

First round

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This round of matches was played on 29 and 30 August 2020[1] and includes teams playing in the Belgian Division 3 and Belgian Provincial Leagues. Teams were divided into eight geographical groups and teams from the Belgian Division 3 were seeded and could not play each other. Note: Wetteren was promoted into the Belgian Division 2 after the draw was made to fill up a vacant spot but no redraw was made.

Second round

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This round of matches was played on 5 and 6 September 2020[1] and includes the 111 winners from the First Round together with 49 teams playing in the Belgian Division 2. Teams from the Belgian Division 2 were seeded and could not play each other. Note: Mandel United was promoted into the Belgian National Division 1 after the draw was made to fill up a vacant spot but no redraw was made.

Third round

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This round of matches was played from 11 till 15 September 2020[1] and included the 80 winners from the Second Round together with 16 teams playing in the Belgian National Division 1. Teams from the Belgian National Division 1 were seeded and could not play each other. The lowest team in the competition came from the third provincial division (8th level): FC Tilleur. Note: Lierse Kempenzonen was promoted into the Belgian First Division B after the draw was made to fill up a vacant spot but no redraw was made.

Fourth round

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This round of matches was played on 20 September 2020[1] and includes the 48 winners from the Third Round. Lowest ranked teams still available were Blankenberge, Wielsbeke, Bilzerse Waltwilder and Vorselaar, all playing at the sixth level (First Provincial Division).

Fifth round

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This round of matches was played on 10 and 11 October 2020 and includes the 24 winners from the Fourth Round together with the teams from the Belgian First Division B (with the exception of U23 team Club NXT which was ineligible, and Lierse Kempenzonen which already entered in the Third Round) and two teams from the Belgian First Division A, Oud-Heverlee Leuven and Waasland-Beveren. The lowest-ranked team still available was Blankenberge, all playing at the sixth level (First Provincial Division).

10 October 2020 Match 266 Tessenderlo (3) 3–1 (a.e.t.)Deinze (2)Tessenderlo
19:30 CEST Battista   31'
Stefani   103'
Vaesen   112'
De Schutter   90' Stadium: Gemeentelijk Sportpark
Referee: Tom Stevens
11 October 2020 Match 267 Lommel (2) 3–2Zelzate (4)Lommel
16:00 CEST Moreno   25'
Hendrickx   68' (pen.)
Brebels   75'
Vandenhende   40'
Broeckaert   62'
Stadium: Soevereinstadion
Referee: Pieter Vandevenne
10 October 2020 Match 268Rochefort (5)1–8 RWDM47 (2) Rochefort
17:00 CEST Monmart   55' Walbrecq   26', 74'
Rocha   37', 39', 45'
Senakuku   70'
Lavie   82', 87'
Stadium: Parc Roches
Referee: Arnaud Soors
11 October 2020 Match 269 Union SG (2) 4–0Heist (3)Forest, Brussels
16:00 CEST Sigurðarson   21'
Undav   82'
Vanzeir   84' (pen.)
Lapoussin   90'
Stadium: Stade Joseph Marien
Referee: Anthony Letellier
11 October 2020 Match 270 Westerlo (2) 5–1Hades (4)Westerlo
16:00 CEST Van Eenoo   3'
Gboho   10'
Çiçek   32', 65', 89'
Vanratingen   64' (pen.) Stadium: Het Kuipje
Referee: Thomas Vanboven
11 October 2020 Match 271 Olsa Brakel (4) 2–0Dender EH (3)Brakel
16:00 CEST Nelis   55'
Cordie   90+1' (pen.)
Stadium: Stephan Van den Berghe Stadion
Referee: Niels Bossuyt
11 October 2020 Match 272Warnant (4)0–1 RFC Liège (3) Warnant-Dreye
16:00 CEST Lallemand   10' Stadium: Complexe Sportif
Referee: Farid Louai
11 October 2020 Match 273 RAAL La Louvière (4) 2–0Jette (4)La Louvière
16:00 CEST Azevedo-Janelas   35'
Gálvez López   90'
Stadium: Stade Communal du Tivoli
Referee: Guillaume Chaspierre
10 October 2020 Match 274Jong Lede (5)0–2 Lokeren-Temse (4) Lede
20:00 CEST Oliveira   34' (pen.)
Cabumi   64'
Stadium: Sportcomplex Ommegang
Referee: Michiel Allaerts
10 October 2020 Match 275City Pirates (4)1–2 Rupel Boom (3) Merksem
20:00 CEST Ernst   31' Nzinga   39'
Mrani   65'
Stadium: Jef Mermansstadion
Referee: Hannes De Couvreur
10 October 2020 Match 276 Waasland-Beveren (1) 3–0Petegem (4)Beveren
19:00 CEST Heymans   30'
Frey   52', 84'
Stadium: Freethiel Stadion
Referee: Florian Stove
11 October 2020 Match 277Knokke (3)0–2 OH Leuven (1) Knokke-Heist
16:00 CEST Mercier   34'
Duplus   89'
Stadium: Stadion Olivier
Referee: Simon Bourdeaud'hui
11 October 2020 Match 278Visé (3)1–2 (a.e.t.) Dessel (3) Visé
16:00 CEST Mputu   26' Cerigioni   10'
Boulaouali   102'
Stadium: Stade de la Cité de l'Oie
Referee: Quentin Malhaise
11 October 2020 Match 279 Seraing (2) 6–1Blankenberge (6)Seraing
16:00 CEST Cascio   5', 39'
Al Badaoui   8', 16' (pen.)
unknown   77' (o.g.)
N'Diaye   83'
Longueville   66' Stadium: Stade du Pairay
Referee: Théophile Diskeuve
11 October 2020 Match 280 Heur-Tongeren (4) 3–0SG-Tertre-Hautrage (5)Tongeren
16:00 CEST Camara   35', 75'
Dango   77'
Stadium: Eburons Dome Sportoase
Referee: Arne De Beuckelaer
11 October 2020 Match 281 Olympic Charleroi CF (3) 2–1 (a.e.t.)Aalst (4)Montignies-sur-Sambre
15:00 CEST Gadi   1'
Jatta   103'
Cobos Copado   42' Stadium: Stade de la Neuville
Referee: Charles-Henri Boeur

Sixth round

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The draw for the sixth round was made on 12 October and included the teams from the Belgian First Division A, with the exception of Waasland-Beveren and OH Leuven which had entered in the prior round. The 16 teams entering at this stage were seeded and could not meet each other. Lowest teams still in the competition are RAAL La Louvière, Heur-Tongeren, Lokeren-Temse and Olsa Brakel, all from the Belgian Division 2 (tier 4).

As part of containment measures taken to limit to spread of the COVID-19 disease in the second half of October, amateur clubs were not allowed to organize group training sessions until mid-December, making it very difficult for these teams to prepare for the cup matches. Therefore, in November 2020 the matches were postponed from their initial dates (15, 16, and 17 December 2020) to 9 and 10 January 2021. Additionally, amateur clubs hosting matches without field-heating installations might lose their home advantage if weather conditions prove too challenging.[2] With the containment measures in Belgium prolonged and amateur teams not allowed to play matches prior to 15 January unless adhering to the (expensive) professional sports protocols, an agreement was found in December with the amateur teams still in the cup to postpone all matches further, now from 9 and 10 January 2021 to the midweek of 2 to 4 February 2021.[3] With no further postponements possible, in case further containment measures prevent the amateur teams from restarting on 15 January, these teams will be excluded from the competition, receiving some financial compensation in return. On 17 January, K.F.C. Dessel Sport forfeited their match, after the mayor of Dessel had not allowed Dessel Sport to follow the protocol of the professional football clubs, making it impossible for them to prepare for their cup tie with Beerschot. Beerschot immediately progressed to the next round.[4] On January 19, for the same reasons, both Rupel Boom and Tessenderlo also forfeited their matches, respectively against Eupen and Genk. Eupen and Genk progressed automatically to the seventh round.[5]

2 February 2021 Antwerp (1) 2–1RAAL La Louvière (4)Antwerp
18:00 CET Mbenza   20'
De Laet   73'
report Lazitch   58' Stadium: Bosuilstadion
Attendance: 0
2 February 2021 Union SG (2) 2–1Excel Mouscron (1)Forest, Brussels
18:00 CET Vanzeir   79'
Nielsen   90+2'
report Bakić   30' Stadium: Stade Joseph Marien
Attendance: 0
2 February 2021 Dessel (3)0–5 FF [4] Beerschot (1) Dessel
18:00 CET Stadium: Armand Melisstadion
Attendance: 0
2 February 2021 Rupel Boom (3)0–5 FF [5] Eupen (1) Boom
18:00 CET Stadium: Gemeentelijk Parkstadion
Attendance: 0
2 February 2021 Tessenderlo (3)0–5 FF [5] Genk (1) Tessenderlo
18:00 CET Stadium: Gemeentelijk Sportpark
Attendance: 0
2 February 2021 Lommel (2)1–3 Kortrijk (1) Lommel
18:00 CET Kis   71' (pen.) report Guèye   14'
Chevalier   61'
Selemani   90+3'
Stadium: Soevereinstadion
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 KV Mechelen (1) 2–0RWDM (2)Mechelen
16:00 CET Druijf   28'
Shved   65'
report Stadium: Achter de Kazerne
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 Charleroi (1) 1–0Westerlo (2)Charleroi
18:00 CET Teodorczyk   87' report Stadium: Stade du Pays de Charleroi
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 Gent (1) 5–0Heur-Tongeren (4)Ghent
18:00 CET Tissoudali   26'
Bezus   35'
Samoise   54'
Niangbo   79'
Mbayo   90+2' (pen.)
report Stadium: Ghelamco Arena
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 OH Leuven (1)2–3 Cercle Brugge (1) Heverlee, Leuven
18:00 CET Maertens   3'
Hubert   90+3'
report Hotić   1' (pen.)
Marcelin   39'
Taravel   73' (pen.)
Stadium: Den Dreef
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 Seraing (2)1–4 Standard Liège (1) Seraing
19:00 CET Mouhli   85' (pen.) report Bokadi   3'
Jans   36'
Klauss   67'
Muleka   90+1'
Stadium: Stade du Pairay
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 Club Brugge (1) 6–1 [A]Olsa Brakel (4)Bruges
19:30 CET Vanaken   2'
Badji   21', 60', 74'
Nelis   51' (o.g.)
Chong   69'
Report Haezebroeck   9' Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 Lokeren-Temse (4)0–2 Sint-Truiden (1) Lokeren
20:00 CET Report Nazon   8'
Ito   62'
Stadium: Daknamstadion
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 Waasland-Beveren (1)2–3 Oostende (1) Beveren
20:00 CET Frey   24'
Faucher   54'
Report Gueye   40', 72'
Hjulsager   76'
Stadium: Freethiel Stadion
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 Olympic Charleroi CF (3) 1–0Zulte Waregem (1)Montignies-sur-Sambre
20:00 CET Delbergue   78' Report Stadium: Stade de la Neuville
Attendance: 0
3 February 2021 RFC Liège (3)0–2 Anderlecht (1) Liège
21:15 CET Report Mukairu   29'
Ashimeru   67'
Stadium: Stade de Rocourt
Attendance: 0

Seventh round

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With the seventh round scheduled just one week after the sixth round, the draw was already made on 8 January 2021, before the previous round was even played. The lowest team still in the competition was Olympic Charleroi CF, the only non-professional team to make it this far.

9 February 2021 Cercle Brugge (1) 3–1Oostende (1)Bruges
18:00 CET Deman   32'
Denkey   64'
Ugbo   90'
Report Bätzner   29' Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Bert Put
9 February 2021 Kortrijk (1)1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–6 p)
Standard Liège (1) Kortrijk
20:00 CET Selemani   90+2' Report Laifis   36' Stadium: Guldensporen Stadion
Attendance: 0
Referee: Lothar D'hondt
Penalties
10 February 2021 Eupen (1) 5–1 [B]Olympic Charleroi CF (3)Eupen
17:00 CET Koné   8'
Baby   50'
Magnée   61'
Koch   65'
Bushiri   90+3'
Report Delbergue   14' (pen.) Stadium: Kehrwegstadion
Attendance: 0
Referee: Christof Dierick
10 February 2021 Genk (1) 1–0Sint-Truiden (1)Genk
18:00 CET Onuachu   87' Report Stadium: Luminus Arena
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alexandre Boucaut
10 February 2021 Club Brugge (1) 3–1Antwerp (1)Bruges
20:45 CET Vanaken   49'
Dost   81'
Vormer   85'
Report Lamkel Zé   83' Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Erik Lambrechts
11 February 2021 Beerschot (1)0–1 KV Mechelen (1) Antwerp
18:00 CET Report Schoofs   49' Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kevin Van Damme
11 February 2021 Gent (1) 3–1Charleroi (1)Ghent
18:00 CET Yaremchuk   74'
Odjidja-Ofoe   81'
Berahino   83' (o.g.)
Report Nicholson   1' Stadium: Ghelamco Arena
Attendance: 0
Referee: Lawrence Visser
11 February 2021 Union SG (2)0–5 Anderlecht (1) Forest, Brussels
20:45 CET Report Nmecha   16', 57'
Mukairu   61'
Diaby   71' (pen.), 82'
Stadium: Stade Joseph Marien
Attendance: 0

Quarter-finals

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The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 11 February 2021, right after the conclusion of the last match of the previous round, Union SG vs Anderlecht. Only teams from the top division were still present in the tournament.

3 March 2021 Eupen (1) 1–0Gent (1)Eupen
18:00 CET Heris   49' Report Stadium: Kehrwegstadion
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jan Boterberg
3 March 2021 Anderlecht (1) 1–0Cercle Brugge (1)Anderlecht
20:45 CET Nmecha   13' Report Stadium: Constant Vanden Stock Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
4 March 2021 Genk (1) 4–1KV Mechelen (1)Genk
18:00 CET Thorstvedt   2', 64'
Muñoz   10'
Bongonda   85'
Report Mrabti   82' Stadium: Luminus Arena
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nicolas Laforge
4 March 2021 Standard Liège (1) 1–0Club Brugge (1)Liège
20:45 CET Muleka   49' Report Stadium: Stade Maurice Dufrasne
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nathan Verboomen

Semi-finals

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The draw for the semi-finals was made on 4 March 2021, right after the conclusion of the last match of the previous round, Standard Liège vs Club Brugge.

13 March 2021 Eupen (1)0–1 Standard Liège (1) Eupen
20:45 CET Report Amallah   67' Stadium: Kehrwegstadion
14 March 2021 Anderlecht (1)1–2 Genk (1) Anderlecht
20:45 CET Trebel   75' Report Onuachu   18'
Miazga   60' (o.g.)
Stadium: Constant Vanden Stock Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jonathan Lardot

Final

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Standard Liège1–2Genk
Report

Notes

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  1. ^ The final was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium.
  1. ^
    Tie reversed after the original draw.
  2. ^
    Tie reversed after the original draw as home team stadium has no field heating installed or another possibility to cover the field, with possibly severe weather in the days before the match.
  3. ^
    The match between Bambrugge and Tertre-Hautrage was stopped during the penalty shootout at a score of 4–4 due to racist comments from supporters towards a Tertre-Hautrage player. After extra-time, the match had finished 0–0. Eventually, Bambrugge was penalized with a 0–5 loss by forfeit.
  4. ^
    To fill open spots, several teams were promoted after the draw was made. In theory, these teams would thus have started one or two rounds later.
  5. ^
    With the Belgian First Division A expanded from 16 to 18 teams, two teams had to start a round earlier.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Rounds_P_to_4" (PDF). Royal Belgian Football Association. July 2020.
  2. ^ "Speeldata inhaalmatchen JPL bekend, 1/16e finales Croky Cup 1 maand uitgesteld" [New dates for postponed league matches decided, 16th-finals Croky Cup postponed with 1 month]. sporza.be. 9 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Akkoord met amateurclubs over beker: 1/16e finales uitgesteld naar begin februari" [Agreement with amateur clubs on cup: 1/16th finals postponed to beginning of February]. sporza.be. 9 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Dessel Sport laat bekermatch tegen Beerschot schieten" [Dessel Sport forfeits cup tie with Beerschot]. sporza.be. 17 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Ook geen bekerwedstrijden voor amateurclubs Rupel Boom en Thes" [No cup matches for amateur clubs Rupel Boom and Thes as well]. sporza.be. 19 January 2021.